Let me start by putting this out there: Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is not only my favorite manga ever, it is my second favorite overall work of entertainment after the Suzumiya Haruhi series. So this will be a rather glowing review. However, I will do my best to express why I consider this to be an absolute masterpiece and talk about a few aspects which may prevent others from feeling the same way.

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is an award winning manga by Hitoshi Ashinano. The series follows Alpha, an android who runs a café by herself, as she goes about her daily life and explores a beautifully calm post-apocalyptic version of Japan.

Before I go into full-on “gush” mode, I’ll divide things into the category breakouts:

-----Story - 9 out of 10-----
Let’s start off with what will likely be the main category to turn some people off to the series. While I would personally put this at a 10 out of 10, I deducted a point because I recognize a few things that some might see as flaws. But first, the positives of why I love this story: Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou has some of the most subtly exquisite world building that I have ever seen in a work of fiction. If you want to experience a perfect example of what people mean when they say “show, don’t tell” in storytelling, read this series. There is almost no exposition and the narration that is present is usually Alpha’s personal thoughts and experiences with the world around her.

However, looking at things from another perspective, this meticulous and subtle world building can precisely be what turns other readers off. There honestly isn’t much of an actual “plot” in this series and it presents many mysteries about the world that are never explicitly answer. But as you read it, that doesn’t ever seem to be a goal of the story. It is more of an experience for the reader in its overall atmosphere than it is an intricate tale.

Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou has a bit of an “iyashikei” (healing) slice-of-life feel to it and if you go in expecting an epic, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. On that note, while it may feel like there isn’t much of substance going on, I’ve found the pacing of the series to simply be amazing. While the “nothing” goes on, the series never feels like a drag and its overall dialog-light nature makes it an extremely fast read. Some chapters actually have no text whatsoever. Even if you are a very slow reader (as I am), each volume can easily be finished in about 30 minutes while still fully absorbing every piece of wonderful art. Speaking of which....

-----Art - 10 out of 10-----
The art in this series is just plain wonderful. While it does use a simpler style than other manga that would be praised for their amazing art (such as the crazy amount of detail in something like Berserk), I can’t really understate how beautiful I find many of the compositions in Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou. I’ve literally been brought to tears by the art alone. Will the art be to everyone’s liking? Maybe not. It could seem a little dated to some as the series began in 1994 and the character designs might take some getting used to. Some may find it too simple compared to other manga out there. But regardless of tastes, I would be surprised if anyone can read this and deny the inherent charm of the art. I feel that the style is perfect for the story being told, a simple and calm kind of beauty that will absolutely pull you in if you let it.

-----Characters - 10 out of 10-----
There are really two main characters in this manga: Alpha and the world itself. Alpha is the center focus of nearly every single chapter of the series so it is important that she is a character that the reader can enjoy, especially with its slice of life structure. Luckily, Alpha is a very easy character to like or to even fall in love with. She is a cheerful yet grounded character who is always excited to experience life and explore the world. That excitement is then contagious so that, again, the absence of an actual plot never makes the story feel like a drag. It also helps to let the reader fully appreciate the world which is a character in its own right. The setting of Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou truly feels like a living, breathing entity. The landscapes, artifacts of the past, and mysterious creatures (the Misago in particular being a personal favorite) all feel like a part of the world as a character, interacting with Alpha and other supporting cast members in wondrous ways.

-----Enjoyment - 10 out of 10-----
Surprise, I really enjoyed this manga! For me, everything talked about above creates a perfect package of a beautiful, calm experience that transports me to this world with Alpha at my side. Was that too cheesy? Well, the subtle sense of adventure as this strange post-apocalyptic world is traversed is right up my alley. It is a delightfully easy yet fulfilling read that is able to just make me feel good and immersed while also providing a sense of wonder that I haven’t experienced in any other piece of entertainment.

-----Overall - 10 out of 10 (Conclusion)-----
For my tastes, this is really the full package: wonderful art, great characters, compelling world, and perfectly paced. While there are questions left unanswered, it feels like a complete story that is just the right length for what it is trying to do. Since it is such a fast read, I would recommend at least reading the first volume to absolutely anyone. Even if you don’t usually get into slice of life stories and especially those with an iyashikei feel, this still has potential to be an exception for you.

But that’s not to say this series is for everyone. I remember once there was someone from an American manga publisher (I think it was Vertical) who was asking for license suggestion on a forum. I suggested Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou and it turns out that he REALLY doesn’t like the series. Oh well. Again, the questions left unanswered could end up bothering some people as can the general lack of a plot. Also, as this series has quite the large amount of praise out there, the hype of the series could potentially raise the expectations of new readers to unreasonable heights. If you do try the series, please do your best to go into it with an open mind. While I personally feel that Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou is one of the greatest pieces of entertainment ever produced, that is definitely not a universal opinion and should be taken with a grain of salt. But if you are able to let yourself get absorbed into this world, you are definitely in for a treat.